Oneida football opens season with dominant win over Pioneer in the Carrier Dome

Oneida's Dylan Cafalone (44) looks for room to run during the first half of a game against Pioneer in the 2013 Kickoff Classic in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013.
JOHN HAEGER @ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER/ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH

Oneida quarterback Rory McCarthy (10) stays low and dives into the end zone to score during the first half of a game against Pioneer in the 2013 Kickoff Classic in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 against the Panthers
JOHN HAEGER @ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER/ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH

SYRACUSE >> For football teams in New York, a victory in the Carrier Dome is the perfect way to end a season.

For Oneida, it was a great way to start a season.

Head coach Bill Carinci said his squad was "clicking on all cylinders" and it cruised to a 47-7 victory over Pioneer in the Kickoff Classic on Saturday. The win was the 100th in Carinci's career.

"We were able to run the ball out of all kinds of formations," said Carinci, adding that he didn't want his team to get overconfident after the big win.

Advertisement

Pioneer took the opening kickoff and Oneida forced a quick punt. Dylan Cafalone returned the kick down to the Pioneer 18 and Travis Moyer eventually punched the ball into the end zone for the game's first touchdown. Quarterback Rory McCarthy hit Cafalone on the conversion and Oneida led 8-0 just under four minutes into the game.

Oneida's defense didn't let up on the ensuing Pioneer possession, forcing a three and out and taking over on its own 40 after a punt. Again the offense went to work with McCarthy rushing for a pair of first downs before eventually punching the ball into the end zone on a two-yard run to give Oneida a 14-0 lead. After another Pioneer three and out, McCarthy capped Oneida's third scoring drive with a 25-yard touchdown run that gave the team a 20-0 lead with 6:52 to play in the second quarter.

"(We) drove the ball down the field, great defense, had a few defensive stops," said McCarthy of the keys to the win. "We just played our game and did well. Everyone had a good game."

Pioneer had a chance to get back in the game on the ensuing drive. Matt Haggerty returned Drew Mallinder's kick to the Panthers' 30 and Tyler Mummery ran for a pair of first downs to get the ball across midfield. Quarterback Bryce Little then completed a 12-yard pass and a 15-yard penalty for a late hit on Oneida moved the ball inside the 20. The Panthers converted on a fourth down and inches - their second fourth down conversion of the drive - to set up first and goal from the Oneida 9. Pioneer ran the ball three times, gaining only two yards on Oneida's stingy defense. After calling two timeouts, the Panthers tried to pass it in on fourth down but Little underthrew his receiver in the end zone and their six-minute drive came up empty.

Oneida took a knee to head into the locker room with a 20-0 lead.

It didn't take Oneida long to extend the lead. McCarthy added a touchdown through the air, hitting Cafalone with a pass at the one. The senior running back bulled through two Pioneer defenders for the touchdown and McCarthy's kick gave Oneida a 27-0 lead just over three minutes into the second half.

Oneida's defense forced another three and out and a 45-yard run by McCarthy on third and 10 set up Cafalone's second touchdown of the game, a five-yard run on fourth and inches that put Oneida up 33-0.

Although it had a big lead, Oneida continued to play tough, heads-up football while Pioneer's thin squad began to tire mentally and physically. David Carroll took kickoff duties after Cafalone's second score and his first kick was a hard grounder that rolled towards the Oneida sideline. Pioneer players watched the ball roll while Oneida's John Nish raced down the field and pounced on it to set up another touchdown pass from McCarthy to Cafalone, this one from a yard out to stretch the lead to 39-0.

"It was great to have everybody in sync," said Cafalone. "Besides a few penalties because the Dome kind of got to us with the sound issue, but other than that it was good."

Pioneer finally got on the board on the fourth play of the fourth quarter when Ian Moran recovered an Oneida fumble in the end zone. Jake Cycon converted the kick to cut the lead to 39-7.

Oneida got the points back when Moyer and Hermie Havener rushed the ball down to the Pioneer 4 and Logan Williams punched it in from there. Moyer converted the two-point attempt to give Oneida the 47-7 lead.

Carinci said the team had until midnight to celebrate the win before beginning to prepare for Camden but Cafalone was already thinking about Oneida's next opponent less than an hour after the game.

"It doesn't take all the pressure off us," he said. "We got Camden next week and that's what we're focused on. It was good to get the win but we got to move on to next week."